Royals to coach in India

Two coaches from Reading FC will head off to India this month, as the club continues to provide support to one of the up and coming nations of world football.

The Royals coaches will lend their expertise for an initial period of six months in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, and it is expected that coaches could remain in the region for a further two years.

Arunachal Pradesh is one of the seven states making up the Northeast region and borders the Indian states of Assam and Nagaland and is rated by Lonely Planet as one of the World’s top ten holiday destinations.

Club director Chris Samuelson and Chief Executive Nigel Howe have been to India several times in the last 18 months, assisted by Tom Nomuk, the RFC advisor in the Northeast region where football is the leading sport amongst the 42 million population.

The Royals have also agreed to provide football expertise in a new Indian Super League franchise bid. The Super League will commence its first season in September 2014 with eight franchises and has the considerable backing of Reliance Industries, one of India's largest companies, IMG and STAR, India's dominant sports broadcaster which has signed a ten year contract with the Super League.